The Forest Service has continued to be a primary project sponsor. We work closely with the recration planner and botanist to improve, maintain, and build trails and remove invasive species. We have recently created a daily report log format that includes GPS points and GIS layers to provide specific spatial data to monitor work progress and invasive species locations. Students are currently being trained in GPS/GIS technology and will be submitting these reports directly to the Forest Service.

Turtle Habitat Restoration Project

East Regional Park is a 56-acre park located just east of Cottage Grove, OR. While invasive species dominate the remote areas of the site, a large population of Western pond turtles (30+) resides at the site that features high quality floodplain habitat for juvenile cutthroat trout and spring Chinook. The OYEI grant has allowed us to continue on the five-year project goals of: 1) Removing of invasive plant species in 42-acres of floodplain, wetland, and riparian habitat. 2) Replanting key areas with native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs to increase native habitat complexity, canopy and turtle nesting habitat. 3) Constructing two wildlife viewing blinds and accompanying signage. 3) Caging mature trees to protect them from beaver destruction.